This morning we would like to talk about our heritage.
This is an encouraging thought and one I hope to convey and
encourage you to being part of the great family of God.
Of course we have a we all have a family heritage and American
Standards dictionary says a Heritage is properly that which
can be inherited something passed down from preceding
Generations, such as possessions, or Traditions, or
character. I find in myself the character
of my dad and mother and the, you know, it's funny as I get
older, I see it more and more, but that's something we inherit
you. Each of us have the character
and genes of our parents. And also, what is passed down
the, what is gained? And perhaps the possessions of
my Will be passed down to us, children and will do the same as
we grow old, will pass on our gains in life, and our
character, and our the traditions of our family on to
our children. And so it is that the family of
God, we have God as our father and we as his children, take on
his character and follow in his ways and and walk in the
righteous path. Of course everyone claims to
have God as their father as the Creator and sure in that sense.
All man are children of God and he is their father because he
has created them. In Genesis it talks about God's
creation. Let me read a few verses there,
Genesis 1, beginning with verse 20 then God said let the waters
abound with an abundance of living creatures and let birds
fly above Above the Earth across the face of the firmament of the
heavens. So God created great, sea
creatures. And every living thing that
moves with which the waters abounded according to their kind
and every Winged Bird according to its kind and God saw that, it
was good and God blessed them and saying be fruitful and
multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let Birds multiply
on the earth. So the evening and morning were
the fifth day, then God said let the Earth.
Bring forth the living creatures, according to its
kind, cattle and creeping things, Beasts of the earth
each. According to its kind, and it
was so. And Matt God, made the beasts of
the Earth, according to its kind cattle.
According to its kind and everything that creeps on the
Earth, according to its kind and God saw that.
It was good. You see each creature, the
cattle or the the Buffalo or the whatever kind of Teacher there
is on the earth and in the air. And in the sea, God created and
each produced after its kind. You see the cattle?
Gather together and they reproduce cattle, they don't
reproduce Buffalo or, you know, some or dogs, they reproduce
cattle and each creature according to its kind. and then
it says, Verse 26, then God said let us make man in our image.
You see man's different from the animals.
The animals were created by God and they were to reproduce after
their kind. Man is made in the image of God.
That's the kind of creature he is.
He's made in the image of God, according to our likeness, he
says let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the
birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the Earth and
over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
So God created, man in his own image in the image of God.
He created him male and female, he created them, then God
blessed them and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply
fill the Earth and subdue it. We have dominion over the fish
of the sea over the birds of the air over every living thing that
moves on the earth man is made unique in the creation, because
he's made in the likeness of God in the image of God.
And the animals are made for his use, mayonnaise to made dominant
to have dominion over all of the creation of the world.
The animals are not the same as man.
They don't have the same value as man.
The life of an animal is not the same value of the life of men of
mankind. People today, have that all
messed up. And and in part it's because of
their ignorance of the scriptures or their disregard of
the scriptures as true. And so, they come up with their
own concoction or own idea of what God is.
They think God is in the life of animals or that God is in the
life of plants. And that we are the same.
We have that same kind of life, no, man is made in the likeness
of God, the animals, the creation of the world is made
for his use. And there's a difference, First
Corinthians 15 and 39 says all flesh is not the same flesh, but
there are one kind of Flesh of men, another flesh of beasts and
other officials and other birds. So there's a difference between
not that man should take advantage of that and be
ruthless or cruel. I don't Advocate that at all.
In fact, I think we should take care.
That's what we should do as, as those who that they're made for
our use and we should use them properly and not abuse our place
in the world. so, man, the B, the main point of this whole
discussion here is that we are created by God and we are
created in his likeness and In His Image.
So we are by virtue of being the creation of God and being in His
image God's children, but sin. Sin and the flesh separates us
from God. Now, I think a great verse is
Genesis, the third chapter and verse 8, where it says,
according to the new King James rendering and they heard the
sound of the Lord. God Walking In The Garden, in
the cool of the day. God walked with it Adam and Eve
he was close to them and he could talk to them and it seems
that God was was present with Adam and Eve.
And, and this verse gives me the indication that God enjoyed that
because it pictures, something that I would could relate to,
I'd love to be in the garden in the cool of the day and you
know, the freshness of a garden and all that goes with that God
was enjoying. It seems the company of His
creation and enjoying his creation, but then Adam and Eve
sinned. And and in the next verse he
looks for Adam and he calls for them and of course, Adam and Eve
sinned. And so God had to separate
himself from them, he got God, is sinless, and he can't have to
do with sin sin, separates us from God.
But God had a plan all along to redeem, man to him, to reconcile
to him, sin separates us from God.
But God's plan was to bring us back and to bring us close to
him again in Ephesians. The second chapter verses 1
through 6, says, and you hath, he quickened who were dead in
trespasses and sins sins sin puts us to death to God, we were
dead. Dead in trespasses and sins, but
God made us alive. We're in times past ye walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of Disobedience among whom also, we all had our
conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the Flesh, and of the mind, and
we're by Nature the children of Wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in Mercy for his great love wherewith.
He loved us even when we were dead in sins.
Hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved and
hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly
places in Christ Jesus God has done that for us and of course
it could. It only happens of course
through our belief and our acceptance of the gospel and our
belief in Jesus and our obedience to it, God's able to
do that. But God's provided it for us.
And if we do this, this our sins are removed, were reconciled to
God. There's no longer any thing that
separates us from God and we in Heavenly places.
That's the church. The church is a Heavenly place,
you know, we've talked and it's recently, been outlined how the,
the Tabernacle is a picture and a type of the church.
And the holiest of holies is a type of Heaven.
The veil between the holy place and the most.
Holy place was torn apart when Jesus died indicating the way
into the holy of holies was made.
We in the church. Have have perfect access to God.
So, so you see we in Christ are in Heavenly places.
We can talk to God and and we can God hears us, God hears is
his children and that is through Jesus Christ.
We're given spiritual life. We were dead in sins, but we're
Made Alive through through the Plan of Salvation in Romans that
the 6th chapter and verse beginning with verse 3,
know, ye not that. So many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like
as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father.
Even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him that the
body of sin might be destroyed. Destroyed that henceforth.
We should not serve sin for, he that is dead, is freed from sin.
Now, if we be dead with Christ, We believe We Shall also live
with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead,
dieth no more death hath. No more dominion over him for in
that he died. He died unto sin wants, but in
that he liveth he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves.
To be dead, indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ. Our Lord, when we are baptized,
we are put to death were buried with Christ and were raised to
walk in newness of Life. Were raised for walk.
A new creature raised to walk spiritually alive in Acts 22 and
16. It says Paul is re lading his
meeting with ananias and ananias says to Saul arise and be
baptized and Wash away, thy sins calling on the name of the Lord.
In baptism, our sins are washed away.
So what has separated us from God, what had made us dead unto?
God is washed away, were reconciled to God.
Now, there's nothing between us which which separates us X2. +
38, repent, and be baptized every one of you.
In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Romans 8, 10 and 11. It says and if Christ be in you,
the body is dead because of sin. But the spirit is life because
of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also Quicken your mortal bodies by
his spirit that dwelleth in you God makes us spiritually alive.
We were dead, but through our obedience to the gospel, We Are
Made Alive and Alive unto God through Jesus Christ.
In John 1:12 through 13, it says, but as many as received
him to them gave he power to become become sons of God.
Even to them, that believe on his name, which are born not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of, man.
But of God were born of God. We're children of God, as
through our obedience, Mark Romans.
Romans 8 and 13 through 17 for if we live after the flesh, ye
shall die. But if ye through the spirit do
mortify, the Deeds of the body ye shall live for as many as are
led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God for you.
Have not received a bit of the spirit of bondage again to fear.
But you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba,
Father the spirit itself. Beareth witness with our spirit
that we are the children of God and if children then heirs Heirs
of God and Joint heirs with Christ.
If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together. God makes us his children.
Through our faith and obedience and and that's just the
wonderful thought. The world cannot claim.
That only God's only, the faithful only those who are
obedient to the gospel can claim to be sons of God and Heirs of
God joint heirs with Christ. We cry, Abba, Father, you know,
Jesus called God, Abba, Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and
account of Mark, that just literally means father, father,
but it's a name, it's a name, a special name and, and God's
children are able to call him that, you know, I call my dad
Dad, Charlotte calls him Dad. We can call him dad, you can't.
Because we're his children, we can call god, father, because
we're his children through faith and obedience in the gospel.
And we are joint heirs with Christ.
Part of our heritage is preaching, the gospel, and Jesus
course, gave the commission to the apostles, to go and to
preach to all the world. He said in Mark, 16 and 15, he
said unto them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to
Every Creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be
damned. In Acts 2 and 41.
It says, and then those who gladly received the word were
baptized and that day about three thousand Souls were added
to them. The First Gospel, sermon
preached, and people accepted, and obeyed it.
And when they did 3,000 3,000 that day, obeyed the gospel and
were added to the number of save verse. 47 praising, God and
having favor with the people and the The Lord added to the church
daily. Those who were being saved.
The first time, people are actually added to the church
here in this account. Today we have, we obey the same
gospel. We preach the same gospel that
they preached that day, and, and we obey it the very same were
added to the same body and the same church, Paula Paul such a
such a great preacher, and evangelist and Apostle work so
hard and diligently in his calling, in the, in the, in the
church. And he says, in Romans, 15 and
19 through Mighty signs and wonders by the power of the
spirit of God. So that from Jerusalem and
roundabouts until their lyric, mm, I have fully preached.
Hospital of Christ and in Romans 1 and 15.
He says, so as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel
to you that are at Rome also for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth Paul definitely showed through his action and
his work that he was not ashamed of the gospel.
And he was not afraid of putting his life on the line for the
gospel. And he did many times he was, he
was imprisoned and he was abused and stoned even and left for
dead, but the Apostle continued to preach and to work in the in
the gospel. And this is part of our heritage
too. Spreading the gospel and taking
the gospel, we have the gospel, the gospel is here, and we have
obeyed it. And we as part of God's family,
want others to join the family of God.
So our commission today as well, is to spread the gospel to all
the world and not be ashamed. It's a Great Khali.
It's a great place to be in the family of God and we want
others. The Bible says God does not want
any to perish. What, commands, all to repent,
and Jesus died for the world. Anyone who will accept the
gospel, the same power that added the disciples added, the
Believers to the church, in the first century will add them to
the church today. The same power will will wash
them of their sins, the same blood, the same sacrifice, the
same steps of obedience. The gospel Plan of Salvation.
So that's our, that's our heritage, as well to spread and,
and preach the gospel as much as possible, as much as we are able
and, and we do that. Also the hold on to the truth
and to teach the truth. Of course, the world.
It's just hard to comprehend the denominations and how they go
about. And how do they decide?
What to do? How to worship it seems like
it's Well, I think that they take the scriptures as just kind
of a guide and they have Liberties to do what they want,
they just think God will accept that instead of taking the
scriptures as God's command and just obeying them as God
delivered them. The, the denominational world,
the religious world is not even recognized in the scriptures,
you can't find them. You can't find their name, you
can't find their practice. It has developed over many, many
years of man's ideas being incorporated or even Pagan ideas
being incorporated into so-called Christian worship.
And it has, it has over the years evolved into something,
which Now, they have to have their own book to show what they
do and why they do them. Instead of just the scriptures.
We need to hold on to the scriptures.
Hold on to the truth. Keep the, the truth as it is
delivered to us. And that is also part of our
heritage part of our, what's handed down from the Apostle to
his, to his son's, the Evangelist that he taught and
who followed and and taught with him.
Paul warrant. Paul warned that the church that
there would be straying from the truth.
He warned, he said to the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20 and
28, he said, take heed, therefore unto yourselves.
And to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers to Shepherd the Church of God, which he purchased with
his own blood for. I know this that after my
departure, Savage wolves will come in among you.
You not sparing. The flock also from among your
own selves men will arise speaking perverse, things to
draw away disciples after them. Paul says, I know that after my
departure men will come teaching perverse things and of course he
told the Galatians. I Marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace unto another
gospel. He was amazed that they were
already. Turned aside and we know from
history, that's exactly what happened.
And even from the Elders of the church Paul says to the elders
that this is the Church of God that he purchased with his own
blood. Take care of the flock feed the
flock and Shepherd, the flock. That was their job.
This was the Lord's church and he purchased it with his own
blood. He said, take care of it.
I know that Grievous wolves are in going to enter in among you
not sparing. The flock even from your own
cells and what? What a prophecy history, just
declares that the things just went down.
And, and so far, it's hard to for us to comprehend, but But
today, we still have the same truth that the Apostle preached
and we can still obey the same gospel.
As that they did. Again, Galatians, 1 6 through 8
says, I Marvel at you, you are turned away.
So soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a
different gospel, which is not another, but there be some who
trouble you and want to pervert. The gospel of Christ, that's
what the world does. And Many religious bodies today,
just simply pervert the gospel of Christ, it's not, it's not
the same gospel anymore, they have perverted it but Paul says,
but if even if We or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel to you than that, which we have preached to you.
Let him be accursed a curse. Listen this is not a man
speaking to us. This is God's holy writing.
This is a man inspired by God declaring to us that if we
preach anything other than the gospel of Christ, we are cursed.
I think that was scare people to death to do anything other than
what what what we read. I would not want to face God in
the day of judgment with such a curse on my head.
It says, in First Corinthians, the fourth chapter, 16 through
17, therefore, I beseech. You be ye followers of me for
this cause I've have, I sinned unto you timotheus who is my
beloved, Son and faithful in the Lord who will bring you into
remembrance of my ways, which be in Christ as I teach everywhere
in every church as Paul taught. And he instructed Timothy to go
and and to remind them, remind them in Corinth what I taught
them so that they will keep the Commandments as I Them as I
follow Christ. In Titus 1 and 9.
It says holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers verse 13 and 14, this witness is
true, wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound
in the faith. Not giving heed to Jewish
fables, and Commandments of men and turn from the truth.
Titus was instructed to give the elders instruction.
To buy holding fast the faithful word.
Holding fast the faithful word, as he had been taught that he
may be able by sound Doctrine, both to exhort.
And to convince the gainsayers, this is our weapon.
This is how we fight a false teaching and this is our guide
in truth. If we will just follow these
words, then we will be keeping the teachings that Paul taught
in every city in every church and that Titus taught.
And that Timothy I taught. Second Timothy 3 and 16 all
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for
instruction. In righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works. What more do we need?
We can be completely furnished. This is good for Doctrine.
Some people don't like to be taught Doctrine, but listen Paul
taught Doctrine And we need to teach Doctrine and we need to
know the doctrine of Christ and follow it for reproof for
correction. When their correction is needed,
these words here are good for that there, by inspiration of
God, and they're profitable for all this.
That the man of God may be perfect.
That is complete and thoroughly furnished unto every good work.
So, so we don't need more. We have all that.
We need to lead us in the ways of As of God and the ways of
righteousness. And it is our, it is our
heritage. It is part of our part of our
job, as the family of God, to preach these words.
And just, as Paul said not to be ashamed of them, this is the
power of God to save And, of course, we have a great
inheritance waiting for us an inheritance that Fades not away.
First Peter 1 + 3. + 3 through 5, the new King James rendering
blessed, be the God, and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ who
according to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to
a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
From the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled.
And that does not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you an
inheritance incorruptible. It's hard for us to relate to
something like that. Everything here, corrupts
everything here decays and we have to keep renewing.
It, we have to keep restoring it and and we grow old.
We Decay and we die. We've recently laid to rest are
our brothers and fathers and and and Friends.
Several of our, of our own this last year.
And but We have an inheritance, we know when we don't have to
sorrow. As Paul said, we don't have to
sorrow as those which have no hope.
We're comforted because there they await Us in the place that
Jesus went to prepare for us. Jesus said, In John 14 + 1 + 1
through 3, let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God
believe also in me for in my father's house are many
mansions, if it were not. So I would have told you I go to
prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am
there, ye may be also the Des he was about to leave.
He was about to. He had risen from the dead.
He was with his his Disciples and he was about to ascend into
heaven, he said don't be downhearted, don't be
discouraged or troubled. I'm going to prepare a place for
you. That when I come, I'll receive
you to myself and where I am. There you may be also What a
wonderful comfort. And what a wonderful thought
that we have a mansion prepared for us.
In Heaven by, Jesus are our brother, and we will be with God
and Jesus forever. That's our inheritance
Incorruptible, and that Fades not away.
Matthew 25 and 34 says, then shall the king say, unto them on
his right hand. Come you blessed of my father
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world. You know, it's interesting that
God from the beginning had this plan.
It's a it's also interesting that it took so long to develop
thousands of years. But all of those things, all
those things that transpired in that we read about in the Old
Testament, was to bring about God's plan for the Redemption of
man to bring Christ into the world, and, and for God to
fulfill and to bring about his plan of the Redemption of, man,
in fact, Abraham, Abraham was a looked forward to heaven.
It wasn't promised him, it wasn't promised the children of
Israel, but they wandered about as strangers and pilgrims even
in the land of promise. In Hebrews the eleventh chapter
verses 8 through 10, it says by faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive
for an inheritance obeyed. And he went out, not knowing
whether he went By faith. He sojourned in the land of
promise as in a strange country dwelling in Tabernacles with
Isaac and Jacob. And are The Heirs with him of
the same promise for, he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose Builder and maker is God, the word
Tabernacle cannot be translated tent, you see?
They were they were Nomads. They were shepherds.
They moved their flocks about so they didn't live in in houses.
Like we do with foundations, they lived in tents, that could
be taken up and moved to better pasture and they move their
sheep around and their and their flocks and herds to pastures
that were agreeing. Abraham was in the land that God
had promised him but still, he lived as a stranger.
And as a pilgrim, it says he looked for a city that had
Foundation whose Builder and maker was God.
That's what Abraham looked for now.
They again, didn't have the promise, but that's what they
look. They look forward to that and by
faith. They looked ahead because they
look for something better. Verse 13 and 16.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises but
having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and
embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. And we are to like them.
We're strangers here. Our home is in here.
Our treasure isn't here our home and our treasure.
Our inheritance is in heaven. in second Peter, the third chapter
Verses 10 through 18, but the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a
great noise. And the elements will melt with
fervent heat both the earth and the works that are in.
It will be burned up. Therefore since all these things
will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in
holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening.
The coming of the day of God because of which the heavens
will be dissolved being on fire and the elements will melt with
fervent heat. Nevertheless, we according to
his promises look for new heavens and a new Earth in which
dwelleth righteousness. Therefore, beloved looking
forward to these things, be diligent to be found by him in
peace, without spot and blameless.
That's the lesson this morning where the lesson is an
encouragement to you. Look at your inheritance, look
at what you have laid up for you.
And the diligent to be faithful and to live Faithfully in this
life looking forward, even hastening unto the coming of the
day of God, when he will come and we will receive his own into
the air. And there, shall we ever be with
the Lord? We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
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